While lasers serve a variety of purposes in the world, they are especially useful for combating a host of skin concerns. In fact, lasers can help resolve visible signs of aging, unwanted hair, and uneven skin tone and texture.
If you’ve ever looked at the service menu from a laser cosmetic spa, though, you know the treatment options are many. So, what are the differences between these procedures? And which one is right for you?
In this post, we’ll discuss a few of the laser-assisted cosmetic procedures we offer, and how to identify the one that best suits your needs.
Let’s dive in.
What is a Laser Cosmetic Treatment?
A laser emits gentle pulses of energy that pass through the skin to treat underlying cosmetic concerns. Brown spots, acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, spider veins, and other signs of aging decrease or disappear. Your health professional will choose the correct laser for your particular skin concerns.
Our cosmetic laser procedures are outpatient experiences, and patients who receive the treatments can usually return to their normal activities within hours. Both the discomfort and recovery time associated with laser treatments are minimal, as well.
What Kind of Laser Cosmetic Treatments are Available?
Here at Laser Cosmetic Center, we pride ourselves on working closely with our patients to create a customized program to achieve the best-looking you.
If you’re considering anti-aging laser treatments, your first step should be an individual consultation. During this consultation, our medical staff will help you select the ideal treatment based on your skin concerns, budget, and desires.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the state-of-the-art laser devices we offer, and the specific skin concerns each is most effective for:
Cynosure Vectus Laser
The Vectus Laser is one of our patients’ favorites, thanks to its efficacy, safety, cost, and comfort.
The Vectus laser is one of the most effective hair removal treatments available today. This laser works by targeting and destroying the hair cells responsible for hair growth without damaging the surrounding skin. The result is smooth, hairless skin that lasts.
If you’re interested in this treatment, you’ll be happy to know that The Vectus Laser provides the fastest hair removal treatment of all lasers, since it has the largest “spot size” (treatment surface) - at 1” by 2”.
Because it offers such a large treatment area, laser specialists can also use the lowest power setting during treatment, making it one of the most comfortable lasers.
Effective for:
Hair removal
Excel V
The award-winning Excel V laser is effective for addressing more than twenty skin concerns. It works by delivering rapid pulses of light to the surface of the skin. These pulses of light cause the blood in the veins to coagulate.
The coagulation subsequently destroys the vessel and causes the body to reabsorb it. This, in turn, redirects blood flow to the veins that are deeper in the skin’s surface. This laser eliminates the appearance of visible veins, renewing skin’s natural color and tone.
Effective for:
Visible broken blood vessels, or diffuse redness of the face.
Red, blue, or purple spider veins of the leg
Brown sunspots or other sun-damaged areas of skin
Blue veins surrounding the eye area
Laser Genesis
The Genesis V treatment delivers gentle micro-pulses that heat the dermal layer directly beneath the skin. This promotes collagen production, which plumps the skin and constricts blood vessels. The result is dewy, healthy-looking skin and fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
Effective for:
Scarring and redness, from surgery, burns, or acne
Broken blood vessels
Fine lines
Wrinkles
Uneven texture
Age spots
Large pores
Fraxel Dual
Fraxel Dual lasers are non-invasive, microscopic lasers that penetrate the skin to encourage new collagen and elastin growth. These lasers are non-ablative, meaning they leave the top layer of skin intact. This makes for faster healing time and less redness after treatment.
Effective for:
Reversing the signs of aging
Fine lines
Age spots
Wrinkles and scars
Uneven tone and texture
Clear+Brilliant
This is the little sister to the Fraxel. The Clear+Brilliant treatment is a gentle fractional laser that resurfaces skin and leaves it looking uniform. The Clear + Brilliant treatment works by concentrating energy on the top layer of the skin. The treatment encourages the body to replace dull, damaged skin with new tissue. The result is skin that looks youthful, plump, and beautiful. Many clients notice a difference within 1-2 weeks of treatment.
Effective for:
Visible signs of aging
Uneven skin tone and texture
Large pores
CoolSculpting
While CoolSculpting is not technically a laser treatment, it is one of our most popular offerings. This is an FDA-approved, non-surgical procedure designed to reduce localized fat deposits with a cooling-treatment. CoolSculpting uses a technology called Cryolipolysis.
Essentially, Cryolipolysis provides targeted cooling, which kills fat cells without affecting the skin on top of them. Eventually, the body eliminates the destroyed fat cells, leaving you looking slim and trim.
Ideal for those stubborn areas that don’t move with exercise, CoolSculpting can provide a 20-25% reduction in the treated areas.
Effective for:
Fat reduction
Expectations and Recovery
While lasers are much less invasive than surgical procedures, recovery isn't instant.
Most of our patients report that the after-effects of laser treatment feel like a mild sunburn, and that healing can take anywhere from 1 to 7 days, depending on the type and extent of the treatment.
To promote healthy skin healing, our medical professionals will instruct you on how to care for your skin. Our Fraxel Dual patients receive a product care kit at no extra charge. Our clinic offers a wide range of skincare products for sale that will enhance your skin’s health.
Keep your healing skin moisturized and use only gentle cleansers.
Apply protective skincare treatments, as recommended by your medical professional.
Use sunscreen formulated for sensitive skin. Apply each day.
Are you Ready for Beautiful Skin? Contact us for a Consultation
Your most beautiful skin is just around the corner. If you’re looking for effective laser treatments, our team is here for you. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to request your complimentary laser cosmetic consultation.
About the Author: Dr. George is a board-certified dermatologist and the senior partner with Dermatology Associates. He has been in practice in the Flathead Valley since 1996. Before moving to Montana, Dr. George completed his Air Force career as the dermatologist at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Dr. George has extensive training in surgical and cosmetic dermatology and is the medical director of the Laser Cosmetic Center.